Protein electrophoresis is a well-established technique routinely used in clinical laboratories for screening serum and urine samples for protein abnormalities. The following protein fractions are obtained: Gamma globulins Beta-2 globulins Beta-1 globulins Alpha-2 globulins Alpha-1 globulins Albumin. The M-protein is characterized by the presence of a sharp, well-defined band/peak on the electrophoresis pattern. Once the […]
Protein electrophoresis is a well-established technique routinely used in clinical laboratories for screening serum and urine samples for protein abnormalities. The following protein fractions are obtained:
The M-protein is characterized by the presence of a sharp, well-defined band/peak on the electrophoresis pattern. Once the M-protein is identified (or suspected), electrophoresis is followed by immunological characterisation of the M-protein in both serum and urine by immunofixation or immunotyping using serum or urine immunoreaction with appropriate antisera. This second level testing enables the determination of the heavy chain (IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD or IgE) and/or light chain (kappa or lambda) involved.